Liars' Room by Dan Poblocki

Author:Dan Poblocki [Poblocki, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2021-08-06T00:00:00+00:00

HE RACED THROUGH the darkened corridors, holding a scream just at the back of his throat.

Every door that appeared seemed like the one he should take, but Simon knew if he made a wrong turn, he’d be lost down here, as hopeless as the twins trapped in that room back there. They’d thought he was playing a prank. Could they really believe he was that cruel?

He paused where three openings led to who-knew-where and shone the light through each portal. Just beyond the arch on the left, footprints marked the dust, patterns he recognized from the bottoms of Alex’s sneakers. He let out a shaky breath.

This would be his path of bread crumbs, showing the way out. Up the stairs, down the hall, around the bend. His footfalls echoed, making it sound like someone was chasing him. He reached the plywood plank Alex had unlocked and threw it wide open, stepping out into the fading daylight. He wanted to cry out, Help! But who would answer? Dad and Bev weren’t home. Their neighbors weren’t close enough to hear him. He could try tracking down Zachary, but what good would that do?

Simon tore around the side of the north wing. The courtyard appeared, surrounded by the gravel drive. To his surprise, he heard the sound of an engine approaching.

A moment later, his dad’s pickup came flying up the road, trailing a cloud of dirt. Simon dashed onto the lawn and waved his hands over his head. The truck coughed to a stop. Bev leapt from the passenger side. Simon realized for the first time that he was covered with dust, his face caked with a mix of dirt and tears. “What is it, Simon? What’s wrong?” Bev asked.

“Promise you won’t be mad.”

When his father came around the front of the truck, the look he wore said that no promises would be made or kept. “Where are they?”

Simon led his parents sheepishly around the back side of the north wing. Bev saw the plywood door swinging in the breeze and she let out a small cry.

Simon tracked the footprints back down to the basement. Now that his dad and Bev were with him, the place felt less threatening, the shadows brighter, the echoes less clamoring, as if the anger of parents could keep back the things that thrive in the dark. In the basement, Dad and Bev followed the cries of the twins. With their every shout, Simon cringed, even though, this time, he knew it wasn’t his fault. Dad and Bev came to the room with the door. Dad grabbed the flashlight from Simon’s hand so quickly, Simon almost screamed himself.

Bev called out, “Stella! Alex!”

“Mom! We’re in here!”

Bev grabbed at the iron ring and pulled, but the door could have been made of steel.

Dad looked at Simon, a mix of exhaustion and anger swarming his face. “What did you do?”

“Nothing! I swear.”

Bev held his arm. “Charlie, please. Just … help me with this. They really are locked in.”

Simon flushed. He felt empty.

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